The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord

The first reading for today, Paul’s letter to the early Christian community in Corinth, is straightforward and unembellished, yet filled with paradox. He reminds them that his ministry is to preach the Gospel, but he will not use polished speeches and showy tactics to persuade people. He will speak the stark truth, the message of the cross.  This doesn’t seem like the best strategy to gain followers of Christ. How can you attract people to Christianity when you start off by talking about the leader’s crucifixion?

He tells them “in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, (but) through the foolishness of the proclamation (of Christ crucified) to save those who have faith.” One cannot come to know God through signs and wonders or scholarly knowledge, but only through Christ and the gift of faith. It is only through the eyes and ears of faith that we can enter into this mystery.

Paul’s message is as vital and essential today as it was then. We live in a world with rampant poverty and hunger, warring nations and civil wars, and 68 million refugees. Who can pray “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord,” the words of today’s Psalm. Only a fool, in the eyes of the world.  In our despair, we are drawn to those with charisma and persuasive speeches and a proven record of results. “Faith” is foolishness. If Christianity hasn’t “worked” for 2000 years, how can we still believe? The same arguments are heard today as then. We demand proof that God exist and guarantees that a strategy of “faith” will fix our world. Only a fool would follow Christ; Christianity is for the gullible, those easily duped, the naïve.

Matthew’s gospel contains a “judgment parable” – parables that point us to the “end times” – and another paradox. At first read, it seems like the foolish virgins are the ones who trust, without the pre-planning of the wise virgins. But who is ready when the Bridegroom comes? It is only the wise virgins who have the flasks of oil, who carry with them the light of faith; a deep trust that allows them to be attentive, ready to act, even while God is seemingly absent; ever ready to notice God’s appearance at the wedding feast.

This kind of trust is foolish to those who want guarantees and proof, but wisdom to those who have chosen to accept the grace of faith. The mystery we call God is beyond anything we can know or understand, but we can choose to trust that God is present and active in our world - especially through us - and be attentive and ready to respond. The message of Christ crucified is all we need- why shouldn’t we live as if we trusted in God?